The group weblog for students in Physiology for Bioengineers (VTPP 434 and 435) at Texas A&M University

Friday, December 06, 2013

Nanoparticle both kills cancer cell and monitors its process

Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia have developed a new method to track cancer cells. A metallic nanoparticle that is able to enter cancer cells provides new information about the release of drugs and diffusion through the tissue. Florescence of the nanoparticles allows the researchers to learn how drugs are released in a true biological environment instead of invitro experiments
This enables drugs to target cancerous cells in a tissue and also follow the pathway the drugs take. Polymer shells attaches to the drug doxorubicin and are able to enter the cancerous cells. These new nanoparticles will hopefully enable physicians and surgeons to easily recognize cancerous cells and target these cells directly for treatment. Eventually enabling individually adapted treatments. Since cancer is a very prevalent disease this method of improving treatment of cancer patients will be a big breakthrough.http://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/biomedical/diagnostics/nanoparticle-both-kills-cancer-cells-and-images-the-process